You want to buy pet insurance for your cat. The problem is, you’re not sure what questions to ask or what information to look for when choosing an insurance provider. Here are just a few of the things you should think about when choosing a cat insurance company:

Make sure you can use the veterinarian of your choice. Many pet insurance companies require you to choose a veterinarian from a network provider list. This means that any visit you make to a non-network veterinarian will cost you out of pocket.

Find out what exclusions apply to your policy. Every pet health insurance policy has exclusions. For example, some policies do not cover pets with “pre-existing conditions”. Other policies don’t cover things like dental care or vaccines. Make sure your policy fits your cat’s individual needs.

Choose a deductible and a co-pay that you can afford. Keep in mind that it is typical for a pet insurance company to charge a flat deductible ranging between $50 and $100 in conjunction with a co-pay of ten to twenty percent of your veterinarian’s fee. Speak with a representative from the insurance company to price out what typical procedures will cost you out of pocket.

Find out the annual and lifetime caps for specific illnesses and procedures. Many companies set a maximum amount of money that can be paid out per incident. Some set a maximum annually while others choose to set a maximum that extends throughout the lifetime of your cat.

Decide if your cat needs a specific plan. While “one size fits all” insurance plans might work for most cats, your cat might be an exception to the rule. For example, if you are trying to insure an older cat, you might want to consider a policy that is tailored to senior pets.